Well, I'm sure not many people visit Belfast just to see Belfast. In my case I was on my way to Scotland from Dublin so I took the train into Belfast (about a 2 hour trip.) As I alighted at the Belfast Rail Station I couldn't help but notice how new and modern it looked; like a modern air terminal. When I arrived at my B&B I mentioned it to my host. He replied, "Aye, Blow it up enough and they rebuild it!!"
And such is the undercurrent in Belfast. I took a minibus tour of the "Troubles" area. Not the kind of thing you would go out of your way to visit, me thinks.
Our tour guides assured us that there was no danger as tourists are welcomed. But he did give us a thorough description of the atrocitiies and animosity that persist to this day despite the uneasy truce accord that has been reached.
The sights are mainly 20 some foot high fences dividing neighborhoods to keep rock throwers at bay; murals depicting the Unionist and Republican points of view and celebrating their martyrs on about every street corner. These murals serve as markers or warnings to either side to enter at their peril.
On the lighter side, after the tour I wandered downtown and did some shopping and just walking around. It's easy to do Belfast in a day or two as the rest of the city is pretty ordinary. I did get a good view of the harbour as I departed on the ferry for Scotland.
Again, an interesting place to visit, but not compelling. One can't help but be aware of the Unionist and Republic flags that fly in their respective enclaves as you wander about.
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